Third Lanark 2 - 0 Aberdeen

The Aberdeen team visited Glasgow and played the Third Lanark in a Scottish League much. The weather was ideal, but owing to the strong counter-attraction at Celtic Park there was a small attendants of spectators, the crowd numbering about 3000. Teams:-

Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Boyle, Gault; Halkett, Strang, W. Low; Macdonald, Simpson, H. Low, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Third Lanark: Brownlee; Barr, Macintosh; Cross, Sloan, Ferguson; Johnstone, Wilson, Fairfoull, McLuckie, Robertson.
Referee - Mister J. McGill, Thornliebank.

Third kicked off, and from a square by Fairfoul, Robertson got clean away, and, beating Halkett in the run, Macfarlane was twice called upon. The ground was in perfect order, and play was fast. Lennie made play to the other end, but Barr. with a fine effort, returned strongly. Third halves were in good fettle, Cross and Sloan bringing off a nice piece of concerted play. the home team up to now had easily the pull. From good work by H. Low, Aberdeen got away, and Barr again came to the rescue, but in the next minute Simpson shot past. A fine shot by Lennie was just as well saved by Brownlie, who caught the ball as in a vice. From a foul just on the penalty line matters looked bad for the Third, but the shot went harmlessly past. Aberdeen now forced a corner, which came to nothing. Robertson, for Third, was making most headway, but got little support, and then Strang with a fine shot sent over. Boyle again and again brought up Johnstone in double-quick time, and a like remark applied to McIntosh for Third in his attention to Simpson and Macdonald. Play again veered around in favour of the Third, and Fairfoul had twice hard lines in not scoring. Play was interesting, each team attacking in turn. One grade rally by the visiting forwards only helped to bring out a grand goal keeping of Brownlie and a fine defence of Barr and McIntosh. Third broke away, but Johnstone was ruled offside, and Aberdeen forced a corner. A lightning shot from Strang was saved at the post by Brownlie. Half-time - no scoring.

In the second half, Aberdeen had the wind and sun against them, but notwithstanding they still pressed, but were unable to score one to the strong defence opposed to them. Brownlie saved from Macdonald. Third Lanark ultimately asserted themselves, Macfarlane saving twice from Robertson. Gault tripped up Johnstone within the penalty area, and Sloan opened the scoring from the consequent kick. From smart left wing play by Robertson the ball came sailing over to Fairfoul, who, with one of his familiar rushes, made no mistake by footing on a second point.

Commenting on the game, the Glasgow Evening News says:- Aberdeen gave a really clever exhibition; in fact, their forwards gave as fine a display as could be wished for, and it was just as well that Third's defence was a sound as it proved.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 1st April 1907

Lucky " Thirds."

To say that Aberdeen deserved to lose at Cathkin Park on. Saturday would he asserting what their play did not warrant. After getting settled down their play was most elaborate, though less effective than it might have been, chiefly through the want of a fast centre to tap in the passes from the wing. Never has Henry Low given such a poor show as a forward, and it was plain and evident he did not want to be where the directors had put him. He seemed too slow, while he did not make good use. of the ball when he got it. All this taken to account, Aberdeen kept something up their sleeve, till Gault foolishly took the pins from Johnstone inside the penalty area, and a score was made. This was well on in the second period, and it would have mattered little had not the one-back game come into vogue, and off-side spoiled the remainder of this period to such an extent that the spectators were getting disgusted with it, many of whom had left, and never saw the second goal scored by McLuckie, which looked a simple one too. Two goals to nothing looks bad on paper, but it really was not deserved on play, as everyone will admit who was there and saw the game. Had Wilson been there in his Airdrie form, the Third would not have finished their league season with a win. Macfarlane was safe in goal, and Boyle was the better of the two backs, the halves being also in fine form. O'Hagan overdid the fancy work at times, evi¬dently under the impression that he could afford to do it, so firm a hold were his side taking of the game. Macdonald did not get so many opportunities as usual, and, as a consequence, did not shine. The gate was a poor one, only some £60 odds being taken.

Source: Bon-Accord, 4th April 1907